# Multiple MySQL Versions for Development

Options included below:
- Using Docker `docker-compose`
- Using Homebrew `brew`

## Using Docker (recommended)

This gist was originally created for Homebrew before the rise of Docker, yet it may be best to avoid installing mysql via `brew` any longer.  Instead consider adding a barebones `docker-compose.yml` for each project and run `docker-compose up` to start each project's mysql service.

**docker-compose.yml**
```
version: "3.7"
services:

  db:
    image: mysql:5.6
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "3306:3306"
    volumes:
      - "db_data:/var/lib/mysql"

volumes:
  db_data: null
```

Please visit https://hub.docker.com/_/mysql for environment variables that you can optionally set (e.g. username, password, etc.)

To start the your mysql service.

    docker-compose up
    
To stop your mysql service.

    docker-compose down  # or ctrl-c if service is running in foreground

## Using Homebrew

**Disclaimer:** Your milage may vary, I've updated this gist based on comments below but haven't tested it myself since switching to Docker.  Please see comments below and/or gist history for additional details.

I was using homebrew version 0.9.5 when writing this gist.

    brew -v # => Homebrew 0.9.5

Install the current version of mysql.

    # Install current mysql version
    brew install mysql
    
    # Start agent for current version of mysql
    brew services start mysql
      
Install the older version of mysql.      
      
    # Install older mysql version
    brew install mysql@5.6
    
    # Start agent for older version of mysql
    brew services stop mysql
    brew services start mysql56
    
Then to switch to the older version.    
    
    # Unlink current mysql version
    brew unlink mysql 
    
    # Check older mysql version
    ls /usr/local/Cellar/mysql56 # => 5.6.27
    
    # Link the older version
    brew switch mysql@5.6 5.6.27
    
And to switch back to the current version.    
    
    # Unlink older mysql version
    brew unlink mysql56 
    
    # Check current mysql version
    ls /usr/local/Cellar/mysql # => 5.7.10
    
    # Link the current version
    brew switch mysql 5.7.10
    
To verify which mysql version you're on at any time.
    
    # Check which version of mysql is currently symlinked
    ls -l /usr/local/bin/mysql # => /usr/local/bin/mysql@ -> ../Cellar/mysql56/5.6.27/bin/mysql
    
    # Or using the mysql command
    mysql --version